1
GROUNDED
byEric Rohrer
Characters
JEREMY is an athletic and intelligent 11 year-old, but has a knack for getting in trouble. He is confidentand smart, but sometimes a bit too much for his own good.
GARRET is JEREMY’s twin, but unlike JEREMY he has more common sense and does not get in trouble as much.He plays ultimate Frisbee competitively but broke his leg playing it and wears a leg brace. Between GARRET’s injury and JEREMY being grounded, both boys are limited as to what they can do.
HANNAH, 15-years-old, is JEREMY and GARRET’s older sister. She cares about her brothers but also has major sibling rivalries and will take any opportunity to annoy them or get them in trouble.
JACOB is a notorious suburban street prowler, and is often seen strolling through the streets with his sidekick PAUL. Anything that goes wrong in the neighborhood can usually be blamed on him. JACOB is 13. He has a respect for JEREMY because of how he always gets in trouble, but JEREMY is disgusted by it.
PAUL is Jacob’s sidekick and does whatever Jacob wants him to do.
BRIANNA is HANNAH’s friend, and is 15. She’s always on her phone and is a very stereotypical teenage girl.
MOM is strict, and is not afraid to use her parent authority to ground her children. She picks favorites, and loves Garret more than Jeremy.
SCENE 1
SETTING: This scene takes place in JEREMY and GARRET’s bedroom. They share their room, and they have a bunk bed and a desk. The floor has clothes and books all over it. There is a bin full of toys in the room. The scene begins with GARRET on the bunk bed, playing on a DS or some sort of portable device. JEREMY is sitting at the desk doing homework. It is midday on a Sunday. HANNAH barges into JEREMY and GARRET’s room.
HANNAH
Hey idiot! Heard you were grounded again! What’d you do this time?
JEREMY
You don’t need to rub it in, Hannah. It’s not like you’ve never been grounded.
HANNAH
Sure, I’ve been grounded, but never as much as you! What’d you do this time, leave all the vegetables you found in the fridge on a neighbor’s doorstep?
(HANNAH picks up a baseball bat lying on the ground)
JEREMY
I’m not about to eat an “artichoke”! I’ll bet there’s a reason why the word choke is in it…
HANNAH
As long as whatever you did didn’t involve throw-up and coffee, then I don’t care.
JEREMY
Aw, don’t bring that one up. If you must know, this time it did involve coffee. It wasn’t totally my fault, though! It was Garret’s idea to play knee hockey in Mom’s meeting room!
GARRET
Don’t even try to blame that one on me. If you want to attempt power plays in a room full of old ladies and steaming hot beverages, be my guest.
JEREMY
If you’re playing oneon one and a player gets fouled off, are you going to take a leisurely walk into the net?
GARRET
I’m certainly not going to dive bomb into the coffee maker…
HANNAH
I wouldn’t put it past you, Garret. You’re the one who messed up your leg playing that stupid Frisbee sport of yours.
GARRET
Just because you’re 15 doesn’t mean that you’re above us, Hannah.
HANNAH
I’m not? Watch this! Observe, as I…leave this room! Unlike our grounded and injured friends can do! I’m going to go hang out with my friends! Another thing our grounded and injured friends can’t do!
(HANNAH exits, tossing the baseball bat aside. She takes exaggerated steps to mock JEREMY and GARRET. JEREMY grabs the baseball bat and puts it back in the toy chest. He stays at the chest, looking at old toys inside.)
JEREMY
Want to do something? We can play a board game.
(JEREMY holds up an old board game from inside the chest. GARRET doesn’t look up and continues his video game.)
GARRET
Nah. I almost finished this level.
JEREMY
Now that you’ve gotten that stupid DS you never do anything else!
GARRET
Now that you’re grounded and have gotten your DS taken away, you sound like mom!
JEREMY
Do not! Here! We can play this game instead.
(JEREMY holds up another board game.)
GARRET
I already told you! No!
(JEREMY sighs again, and roots through the toy chest. There is a long pause, while JEREMY pulls out random stuff from the toy chest, looks at it, and puts it back. Finally, He pulls out a Frisbee.)
JEREMY
Hey, this is a nice Frisbee. Where’d you get it?
GARRET
Hey! Put down my Alpha Limited Edition Scratch Protection RC-71 Smooth-Glide Survival of the Fittest Aerodynamic build Ultimate Pro Disk signed by Freddy “Frisbee” Johnson! And excuse you, it is a disk!
JEREMY (sarcastically)
Oh c’mon, a little toss around the room can’t hurt the “disk”
GARRET
Wait! No! It may be perfectly weighted for an experienced Ultimate Frisbee pro, but one such as you couldn’t handle it! It could even be…scratched!
(GARRET stands up with a bit of trouble because of his leg brace)
JEREMY
Wait, so the sport is called Ultimate Frisbee, but you use a disk?
GARRET
A disk is distinctly different than a normal Frisbee. They are weighted for athletic feats of endurance, not your common backyard tossing like the disk’s less impressive counterpart.
(JEREMY tosses the Frisbee to GARRET, who, caught by surprise, barely catches it)
JEREMY (not impressed)
Feels like a Frisbee to me.
GARRET
(GARRET holds up the Frisbee, shaking it.)
Do you realize how much this is worth?Freddy “Frisbee” Johnson’s signature is treasured by Ultimate Frisbee fanatics all over the world!
JEREMY
Yup! All three of ‘em!
GARRET
If you must know, the world’s Ultimate Frisbee Association boasts over 30 members! I know, Staggering! I receive their magazine weekly!
JEREMY
Just staggering. Here, toss the Frisbee back! We can throw it around in here!
GARRET
You do not simply “toss” a disk of this magnitude around! And plus, I don’t trust you!
JEREMY
I’m more trustworthy than everyone thinks!
GARRET
Yup! you’ve only locked me in the car, forgot to feed your fish for a week and they all died, lost your IPod, spilled coffee on a bunch of old ladies, left your back pack at home every other day, and-
JEREMY
Alright alright! I promise I won’t do anything stupid with your Frisdisk.
GARRET
Just remember, the things I listed were only last month. That Disk is worth over $200, and if you so much as scratch it, I’ll tell mom about the strudel incident!
JEREMY
No! Not the strudel incident!!! I’ll be really careful.
(GARRET cautiously tosses the Frisbee to JEREMY. JEREMY successfully catches it, and tosses it back. They do this a few times.)
GARRET
Here, I’ll show you how to flick it. You hold your hand like a gun, wrap your thumb around the top like this, and-
(GARRET shows JEREMY where to put his hands)
Then you just flick your wrist and the disk should spin out if you put in enough force!
JEREMY
Alright, I think I’ve got it.
(JEREMY attempts to flick the Frisbee, but he fails and the Frisbee is thrown out the window.)
GARRET
No!!! My Alpha Limited Edition Scratch Protection RC-71 Smooth-Glide Survival of the Fittest Aerodynamic build Ultimate Pro Disk signed by Freddy “Frisbee” Johnson!
JEREMY
Aw dang it! Here, we can go get it.
GARRET
I shouldn’t because of my leg brace,
(gesturesto his leg brace)
but you should! I never should have trusted you with my Alpha Limited Edition Scratch Protection RC-71 Smooth-Glide Survival of the Fittest Aerodynamic build Ultimate Pro Disk signed by Freddy “Frisbee” Johnson!
JEREMY
C’mon, you know I’m sorry. I’ll just zip down and zip back up and grab it. Even though I’m grounded, mom won’t care if I just go right back up!
(Jeremy exits. Garret looks out the window)
Wait! Watch out! There are a couple kids down there! They picked up my disk! Get it back!!!
(BLACKOUT. END SCENE.)
SCENE 2
SETTING: This Scene takes place in front of Jeremy’s house on the lawn. The Frisbee is lying on the ground. Jacob and Paul enter the stage, just as Jeremy enters, running.
JACOB
Haven’t seen you around lately, Jeremy. Grounded again?
JEREMY
Even if I was, it’s none of your business.
(JEREMY slowly edges towards the Frisbee in front of JACOB)
JACOB
How do you always manage to get caught? Remember when I pulled off the great bubble gum heist summer of ’09? Sure, I’m banned from the library for the next 28 years, but only scrubs like you manage to get grounded.
PAUL
You can get caught all you want. Just not by the wrong people. People to avoid are your parents, the police…who cares about librarians? Remember her face when she saw all the gum wrappers?
JACOB
You weren’t even there, Paul. You’re right about getting caught, though. If you look like you own the place, no one will suspect a thing! Look! I can pick up this old Frisbee--
(GARRET yells from offstage “IT’S A DISK!” JACOB has picked up the Frisbee.)
JEREMY
Hey! Put that down! It’s not yours!
PAUL
Is it yours?
JEREMY
Yes! Well no, it’s my brothers.
JACOB
Well, if it’s not yours, let’s just go by the “finders keepers” rule!
(JACOB tosses the Frisbee to PAUL over JEREMY’s head)
JEREMY
Hey! Stop that! I live here! This is my house! This is my yard! You can’t just take our property!
PAUL
It’s just a Frisbee. What’s the big deal?
JEREMY
Garret, the owner of that Frisbee is maybe 10 feet away from you! His leg is broken and here you are, stealing from a cripple!
JACOB
Hmm. Who did you say this signature was from, again? Freddie…Johnson?
(JACOB studies the Frisbee closer, looking hard at it)
JEREMY
Here, uh, put it into my hands so I can see it closer.
JACOB
Yah know, I’m starting to think there might be something special about this Frisbee after all. It’s no use arguing with kids, come on, Paul, let’s go.
(Jacob and Paul jog out)
JEREMY
I shouldn’t even be doing this! I’m grounded! I’m not allowed to be leaving the house, let alone chasing bullies around the neighborhood!
GARRET (from off)
WELL? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HURRY! GET MY DISK BACK!!!
(Jeremy sighs, and exits, running after the kids. BLACKOUT. END SCENE.)
SCENE 3
SETTING: The setting in this scene is a park. Paul and Jacob are tossing the Frisbee around when Jeremy enters, running.
JEREMY
Jacob! Paul! Just give me the Frisbee back!
PAUL
Why don’tcha come and get it?
(PAUL winds up his arm like he’s going to whip the Frisbee really far.)
JEREMY
Wait! I’ll show you how to flick the Frisbee!
(PAUL lowers his arm)
OK. So you wrap your hand around the Frisbee like a finger gun,
(Jeremy gestures his hands like he was holding a Frisbee)
Here, it would be easier if I could show you while holding the Frisbee…
(Paul cautiously hands Jeremy the Frisbee)
JACOB
What are you doing! Don’t give the Frisbee to him!
JEREMY
And then you put your hands like so…and then just flick your wrist and it should spin out of your hands! Thanks for giving me the Frisbee, though!
(JEREMY sprints away, but is caught in seconds by PAUL.)
PAUL
Ha! You thought you could get away!
JACOB
We’re definitely keeping the Frisbee now! We were just playing at first, but consider that Frisbee ours!
(HANNAH and friend, BRIANNA, enter. BRIANNA is on her phone and they are talking and laughing as they enter. HANNAH sees PAUL holding JEREMY and stops.)
HANNAH
Hey! Get off my brother!
PAUL
Who are you to tell me what to do?
HANNAH
Pssh. We’re not scared of a couple 13 year old boys! Come on, Brianna.
(BRIANNA puts her phone away. HANNAH and BRIANNA step towards JACOB and PAUL, and PAUL lets go of JEREMY. The boys exit, intimidated.)
Yeah. That’s what I thought.
BRIANNA
Aww! Why’d we have to let them go? They were, like, cute!
HANNAH
Brianna, they’re middle schoolers. And Jeremy, You’re grounded! What are you doing outside?
JEREMY
Um…I was just…
(BRIANNA pulls out her phone again.)
HANNAH
I’m telling Mom! You’re gonna be in so much trouble!
JEREMY
Wait! Wait! I’ll do what ever you want! Just don’t tell mom!
HANNAH
Fifty dollars!!!
JEREMY
No way! Why are we jumping straight to money?
HANNAH
Fifty dollars!
JEREMY
Five dollars.
HANNAH
forty.
JEREMY
Ten dollars!
HANNAH
That’s hardly worth my while! I’ll just go tell Mom now!
(HANNAH moves like she’s about to leave)
JEREMY
Wait! Stop! Twenty dollars!
HANNAH
Twenty dollars. By Friday. That’s final.
BRIANNA
We haven’t been to Aeropostle in, like, days! Come on! Maybe the hot cashier guy will be on duty!
JEREMY
Ugh!
(HANAH and BRIANNA exit, laughing)
JEREMY
How am I supposed to make $20 while I’m grounded! (Sighs) At least Garret will get his “disk” back!
(JEREMY says “disk” with visible air quotes and says the whole line very sarcastically. He exits. BLACKOUT. END OF SCENE)
SCENE 4
SETTING: The setting is JEREMY and GARRET’s room. GARRET is sitting at the desk, doing homework. When JEREMY enters, he turns around to face JEREMY.
(JEREMY runs into the room, clutching the Frisbee)
JEREMY
I got your stupid Frisbee.
(JEREMY tosses the Frisbee at GARRET and slumps onto the bed)
GARRET
Gee, thanks. Only took you half an hour. Also, It’s a disk.
(They sit in silence for a moment)
Is something the matter?
JEREMY
Hannah saw me outside.
GARRET
Is she going to tell Mom?
JEREMY
Yeah, unless I pay her twenty dollars.
GARRET
Oh! That’s not too bad! You can make twenty dollars easily!
JEREMY
Not while I’m grounded, I can’t!
GARRET
Oh. Right.
(Another silence)
There are still things that you can do! Clean the room and bathroom and see if Mom will give you allowance!
JEREMY (more perky now)
Hey! That’s an idea! Here, come help!
GARRET
Hey, you got yourself into this, not me.
(GARRET turns back around and continues his homework. JEREMY gets down on the floor and puts loose toys into the toy chest and tosses some clothes into a hamper and some into the drawer. After the floor is clean, JEREMY stands up. MOM enters.)
MOM
Hi boys! I’m home! How’s my favorite son doing?
(MOM walks towards JEREMY with her arms out)
JEREMY
Aw, thanks mom, I--
(MOM walks right past JEREMY and hugs GARRET.)
MOM
Oh, Garret, did you clean your room? Thank you so much!
GARRET
No mom, Jere-
MOM
Of course you did! See Jeremy? If you were more like Garret, you wouldn’t get grounded so much! Oh, you’re such a dear, Garret. Double allowance for you this week!
JEREMY
Wait, mom! It was me who cleaned the room! Mom!
MOM
Grounded AND lying? You should know better, Jeremy.
(MOM pinches GARRET’s cheek)
I have to go get dinner started! I’ll call you down when it’s ready!
(MOM exits)
JEREMY
(Gives a dirty look towards Garret.)
Gee, thanks.
GARRET
Hey! It’s not my fault!
(JEREMY sits back on the bed)
JEREMY
How am I supposed to get the twenty dollars now?
(Moment of silence)
GARRET
Check my wallet. There might be some loose change you can have.
JEREMY
That’s a good idea! I can find loose change!
(JEREMY jumps up from his bed and looks around the room collecting pennies and other change he finds. He also opens his wallet and GARRET’s wallet and dumps out any money. he holds them in his hand and counts them.)
There! 2 dollars, 17 cents!
GARRET
Hmm. It’s a start…I know! You could give Hannah stuff instead of paying her money. Or maybe try to sell other people things. That’s a nice Super Mario Bro’s game for your DS you have there…hint hint.
JEREMY
That’s a possibility…but not the Mario game.
GARRET
Didn’t Hannah always want our pet fish we won at the carnival last summer?
JEREMY
We have a pet fish?
GARRET
I guess I’m the only one who’s ever fed it…
(Jeremy moves some clothes around revealing a little toy fish in a fishbowl)
You’re telling me you completely forgot about Rodney?
JEREMY
I assumed “Rodney” had been flushed a while ago! Since when was he still alive!?
GARRET
Never mind. Anyways, Hannah used to want Rodney. You can check if she still does.
JEREMY
Is she home yet?
GARRET
Yeah. She got home 30 minutes ago. You can call her in.